Src family kinases, Bcr-Abl and chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML)

Description of projects available to graduate students:
This project is focused on the cooperation of Src-family kinases with Bcr-Abl, the oncoprotein encoded as a result of the Philadelphia Chromosome associated with chronic myelogenous leukemia. Specifically we are looking at the mechanistic basis of kinase interactions, the effect of interactions and drug-resistance mutations on kinase conformations, and novel approaches to drug targeting.

Techniques graduate student will learn:
Projects involve study of protein-protein interaction and tyrosine phosphorylation using a variety of systems including E. coli, yeast, baculovirus/Sf-9 cell system, and transfected mammalian cells. Rotation students can expect to gain experience with a variety of techniques including subcloning, plasmid preps, mutagenesis, PCR, agarose gel electrophoresis, SDS-PAGE, immunoprecipitation, western blotting, protein kinase assays, immunofluorescent microscopy, and cell culture.